Advanced Biodigester Mk-II Technology in Metro Rail Network

Context: Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), Government of India’s premier research agency and Maharashtra Metro Rail Corporation (MAHA –METRO).

• It is a joint venture company of the GoI and Government of Maharashtra are working together to conserve water and protect the environment by installing DRDO's eco-friendly biodigester units (a non-sewered sanitation technology) in its facilities.
• The advanced biodigester Mk-II technology will be used for the treatment of human waste (night soil) in the metro rail network.

DRDO’s biodigester

• It is an indigenous, green and cost-effective technology, with a rare distinction of having one of the largest numbers of DRDO-licensees (ToT holders).
• The technology has been revamped and further improved in a bid to save the water and space.
• A customized version of this MK-II Biodigester, suitable for treating human waste generated from houseboats in Dal Lake was successfully demonstrated by the DRDO to J&K Administration.
• Lakes and Waterways Development Authority (LWDA) of the J&K Administration has initiated the process to procure 100 units of Mk-II Biodigesters for civil habitats around the Dal Lake so as to minimize water pollution.
• The implementation of Biodigester MK-II in Srinagar is being monitored by a committee of experts constituted by the High Court of J&K under the Chairmanship of Dr E Sreedharan, former MD of DMRC.
• When fully implemented, this green technology will significantly reduce the Dal lake pollution.
• This technology is upgraded through improvements in the bio-degradation efficiency, design modification and addition of secondary treatment module.
• The new reactor is designed to provide more path length with increased biological reaction time, thereby enhancing the bio-degradation efficiency of the system.
• This technology was primarily developed for the armed forces in high altitude Himalayan regions, including Leh-Ladakh and Siachen glacier.

Dal Lake

• Dal is a lake in Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir, India.
• It is an urban lake, which is the second largest in the union territory of Jammu and Kashmir.
• It is integral to tourism and recreation in Kashmir and is named the "Lake of Flowers", "Jewel in the crown of Kashmir" or "Srinagar's Jewel".
• The lake is also an important source for commercial operations in fishing and water plant harvesting.

https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1686284